salvation of their soules It is harsh but it is good newes 2 Cor. 5. saith the Apostle In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ when yee are gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus speaking of the incestuous person If men will be so wretched as to sin grosly the Lord Jesus hath ordered that such a man shal be delivered to Satan for what that he may be damned and to bring him to hell No for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And truly Beloved I have seen more than one that have blessed God for that Ordinance that have been brought to humble their soules and sweetly and closely to walk with God againe by the blessing of God on that Ordinance Now I have told you the worst in the Gospel either reproofe and that but upon great occasion or else delivering to Satan and that must be upon extraordinary occasion yet both are sweet and profitable and precious for the good of the soule Therefore the truth of the Doctrine holds cleare to you that there is nothing in the Gospel look which way you will but good newes and glad tidings to the worst of sinners There is one objection more and so I proceeed to the Uses Some body may say out of the Prophet Isaiah There is no peace to the wicked saith my God Isa. 57. ult. And Isa. 48. 12. The wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose watters cast out mire and dirt The Prophet seemes to comfort the godly but wicked men have no peace then a man may say how doth this stand with your Doctrine you say that the Gospel holds forth peace and glad tidings and good newes to wicked men even to the worst of sinners The are three wayes to answer it in few words The first is that however Isaiah was in a sort an Evangelicall Prophet and spake many things of Gospel by way of Prophesie he saw things for us and not for himselfe as Peter saith yet these kinde of expressions are more properly Law than Gospel for it is certaine there is no other language in the Law but that there is no peace to the wicked Transgresse once and be damned for ever but the language of the Gospel is contrary it comes and gives peace to the wicked and justifieth the ungodly he preacheth peace to them that are neere and to them that are affar off And who were they The Gentiles that were emphatically sinners are we not Jewes saith the Apostle and not sinners of the Gentiles Therefore this was rather Law than Gospel Secondly there is no peace to the wicked or to sinners saith my God You may understand it also in this sense that the Lord will not make any peace with sin though he send messages of peace and reconciliation to sinners though God be reconciled to a sinner hee will never be reconciled to sin But the third and last and most proper as I take it is this There is no peace to the wicked saith my God that is there is no peace to men that continue in sin after Jesus Christ hath been offered them and they have refused him then there is no peace to them Observe for it is a thing of great concernment it becomes not a Minister of the Gospel by any meanes to pronounce wrath and curse or damnation to a sinner qua a sinner as a sinner he is not a Minister of the Gospel if he doe he is a Minister of the old Testament that saith here comes a drunkard eo nomnie because he is a drunkard God will plague him and damne him this is the language of the old Testament But you will say will you speak peace to drunkards and sinners Wee speak judgment and curses and damnation to them when once wee have first offered Christ and they refuse him And for this reason and no other according to the Ministery of the Gospel I am to pronounce damnation and curse to wicked men because they refuse Jesus Christ because they doe not believe in Jesus Christ You will say is it absolutely evil for a Minister to speak against drunkards and Swearers and whoremongers and to say the curse of God will fall on them c. No Why because I speak against a drunkard not properly because he is a drunkard but his drunkeness is a signe that he continues in unbeliefe and so hath not received Jesus Christ So we are to understand the Scriptures There is a drunkard a Sot a jearer of godliness I say the curse of God will come upon him and the damnation of hell is ready to overtake him why not because he is properly such a one but because those are signes that he is an unbeliever When God shall come to judge the world There are people that he will judge eo nomine because they are drunkards he will throw them to hel as those in the Mountaines of Wales c. Because they have but a little light and they did not follow that they shall be condemned and the heathens shal be condemned for their ignorance c. But under the Gospel all are wrapped up in unbeliefe So that this is the pin of Heaven or Hell the very wards that opens or shuts that you be believers or unbelievers But I will not stand longer on that Now I proceed to shew what profit we may have by this Doctrine by way of Application There be divers speciall Lessons that I would have you learne hence The first is this that this truth that I have now taught you it is the doore of the Gospel the very entrance into Christian Religion the first stone as it were in the Christian building in the Profession of Religion in Gospel Profession There is a kinde of devotion and Profession but it is not built according to the Gospel but if you would walk according to the Gospel learne this lesson first that is that God gives life and salvation through Christ to sinners as sinners though they be hard hearted backsliding and the chiefe of sinners yet as long as they be sinners and but sinners they may alway looke upon Jesus Christ and salvation in his hand to be bestowed on them This is a truth that thou must learne and be taught it of God or else thou canst not goe one step into the Profession of the Gospel for beloved till you know and learne this you will be like men in the dark you will be groping for Christ Jesus but you will never be graffed into him you will never be knit to Christ I say this is the first step to Religion to understand this truth aright that the Gospel brings glad tidings of salvation to be given to the worst of sinners
you that is better than to be Lords and Earles that have an innumerable company of Swearers and drunkards and whoremongers for their serving men that it were agreat deale more ease if they could spare them to be without them but you shall have a company of Saints and Angels to waite on you And though the Gospel tell you not of outward riches for Christ himselfe saith The soxes have holes and the foules of the aire have nests but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his head Yet the Gospel tells you that you have so much title to worldly things that Godlinesse hath the promise of this life and of that which is to come And that God will be a Sun and a shield to those that feare him and he will withhold from them nothing that is good Is not that tidings enough of riches and wealth when God will withhold nothing that is good God will give food and raiment they have it by promise wicked men have it by providence as the doggs and fowles have it Therefore for all that objection this truth runs cleare But secondly another will say the Gospel indeed brings tidings of Christ and salvation but it brings tidings also of afflictions and persecutions the Gospel saith Whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution And Christ saith I come not to bring peace but a sword I come to set the father against the sonne and the son against the father the mother against the daughter and the daughter against her mother And saith the carnall heart I like not this newes I love to be at peace with God and all the world as their phrase is Concerning that though it be true that the Gospel brings afflictions yet it is true the Gospel tells you that these sufferings of yours In the first place they are priviledges the Gospel tells you it is a peice of your happinesse to have them 1 Cor. 3. Whether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas or life or death Death what is death Afflictions are called death In death oft that is afflictions they are but little deathes and one great death ends all the greatest death is a priviledge your afflictions and povertie and reproaches will be a priviledge How is that You have it in Ro. 8. They all work for good to them that love God For your good here and your glory hereafter for saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4. These light afflictions that are but for a moment they work for us an exceeding exceeding weight of glory The English word cannot expresse it compare it with Rom. 8. The afflictions that wee suffer are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed The Spirit of glory riseth on you The Lord doth you good by it for the present and it works for a Crowne of glory hereafter For this is a true saying if we suffer with Christ we shall reigne with him Therefore though the Gospel bring sufferings with it yet take them as the Gospel expresseth them they are sweet and good tidings they are priviledges to you and will turne for your good here and your glory hereafter The Gospel moreover tells you for your suller satisfaction that the Lord will lay no more upon you than you are able to beare And he will be in the afflection with you in the fire and in the water the Lord Jesus will be with you there and in due time he will make you a way to get out Beloved put all together that the Gospel speakes of afflictions and sufferings construe them together you shall see that there is nothing in all that but glad tidings and good newes I but saith another the Gospel if it be Gospel that we use to heare from our Ministers it is not good newes for our Ministers preach against Drunkards and Swearers and Whoremongers and when I sweare the Minister saith I shall never goe to Heaven And he saith the Gospel will have a man forsake his sins and repent and the like this is not good newes it is good newes that God will save me but it is not good newes that I must leave my sins and all my wayes of pleasure that I am in It is good newes that the Gospel will have me saved but it is not good newes that the Gospel will have me a Puritan and be purisied and purged from my sins Concerning that it is very true that though the Gospel speak not properly against drunkards and whoremongers and Swearers yet the Gospel saith that drunkards must leave their drunkennesse and Swearers must leave their swearing and the Gospel calls every man to repentance from every sin yet not withstanding that it is no bad newes First take Christs Argument Mat. 5. Doth thy right eye offend thee pul it out and cast it from thee doth thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee That is as some interpret it there are some sins that are as pleasant as the right eye as profitable as the right hand and thou wer 't better to cut them off why so It is better to goe to heaven with one eye than with two eyes to go to hell and it is better to goe to heaven with one hand than with two to goe to hell Is it not good tidings when a man is taught to make a good bargaine is 't not good tidings when the Gospel tells a man he must throw away his sinnes and it is better to crosse himself a little in his lusts and goe to heaven than to goe lusts and soul and body and all to hell Is it not good newes when a mans house is on fire if one come and shew him how to save a peice It is better than to have all burned Now the Gospel teacheth you to leave sin and it is good newes Why I will tel you because when the Gospel bids thee leave sin it puts in thee a new nature that is contrarie to sin to hate it more than hell and the Devill himself and then if God bid thee leave thy sins it is the best newes in the world as for instance there are many men and weomen I believe here that if the Lord should say to them as he did to Solomon I will give thee whatsoever thou wouldest have in heaven or earth there are some in this place that would say O Lord I would leave my pride I would have a humble heart and a heart that should not love worldly things and a heart that should not be froward and waspish If the Gospel should leave the heart as the Law did and bid you throw away your sinnes and give no strength to doe it it were bad newes but if the Gospel give you a new nature to hate sin and when it bids you leave it gives you power to take it away it is sweet and pleasant newes Another objection that others may make is that
day or two it vanisheth to nothing But here you shall finde first the feild and then the pearle Professors are grown carelesse they were wont to read Chapters morning and evening that was ordinary but thou must doe more if thou wilt understand the mysteryes of the Gospel compare one Chapter and one Scripture with another search the Scriptures and goe to God to open the meaning of it Sixtly spread these glad tidings as much as you can to others You know when people receive good newes they run and tell it to others The poore shepheards Luke 2. when they heard the newes of the Messiah they left their sheep and ran to the Townes to tell it So when Christ was risen Mary runs to tell the newes to the Disciples Beloved when we understand this good newes we should endeavour to spread it People buy Diurnalls for their friends and fold them in their Letters and send them about the Kingdome let us doe so with these spirituall tidings that we may send them forth O I would to God that wee did see how the poore Countries in the North and West of England in many places in Townes they have not so much as a Service-booke not so much as reading if God settle and compose these times the Lord give you hearts to joyne together to finde out a course to send the Ministers of the Gospel to bring the glad tidings to poore people that lie in the Mountaines of darknesse and in the shadow of death And let us not be so curious or scrupulous as to hinder people that they should not preach the Gospel Suppose people have no degrees in the University or it may be have not the knowledge of the tongues though that were to be wished let us not pick quarrels with them to stop their mouthes and to hinder the preaching of the Gospel And let us not think so hardly in these dayes of those men that God hath raised to preach the Gospel It is strange you shall have your Pulpits ring calling them Tub-preachers and Tinkers and Coblers We should think better of them Why they are filled with good newes and they goo and tell it to others We doe so usually in other things when we have good newes we run to our friends and neighbours and comrade's and make it known This is an age wherein God comes and fills his people with the glorious light of the Gospel and poore wretched they cannot chuse but speak what they have seen and heard therefore be not so captious and furious The Lord hath spoken who can but prophesie Amos 3. 8. When God fills peoples souls with the knowledge of Christ who can keep it in It is as the new wine spoken of in Joh it cannot be kept in And surely the time is comming that young men shall see visions and old men shall dreame dreames and God will poure out his Spirit upon all flesh and they shall prophesie It is prophesied in Joel and this is to be made good in the new Testament And therefore if wee see that the Lord fills young men or tradesmen c. and gives them hearts to goe and tell the good newes to others why should you be so extreamely troubled and spend your spirits in rage at it I use not to tell stories but let me tell you this one thing since I have been from you of late I have observed and seen in the Mountaines of Wales the most glorious work that ever I saw in England unlesse it were in London the Gospel is run over the Mountaines between Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire as the fire in the thatch and who should doe this They have no Ministers but some of the wisest say there are about 800 godly people and they goe from one to another They have no Ministers it is true if they had they would honour them and blesse God for them and shall we raile at such and say they are Tuh-Preachers and they were never at the university Let us fall downe and honour God what if God will honour himself that way They are filled with good newes and they tell it to others and therefore vex not at them and say O what times are these and what will become of us Why what is the businesse O such a man he was never Master of Arts hee was never at the university and he rakes upon him to preach when it may be he hath more of God in him than I and a hundred that have all this Only take two Cautions First I speak not to disparage learning or learned men it were to be wished that there were more godly and learned men also in England and Wales Secondly take this Caution that because God fills many with the Gospel and they doe a great deale of good take heed least any of you run before you be sent that is that a man goe not rashly and believe his owne judgement rather than the judgement of the Saints as divers in this City they think they are fit to preach and other people of God that are better able to judge of their gifts think not so and yet they will run presently Take heed of pride and rashnesse but if God fill a man with the tidings of the Gospel and others of the people of God see it spark le out as a vessel full of new wine who am I that I should resist if with humility hee make known this tidings to others If the Gospel be such a thing as I desire you to spend some thoughts in considering of this truth then this should comfort us and help our patience a little in these trouble some times that though all be out of order and we suffer such losses yet blessed be God wee have the voyce of the turtle still in the Land thou maiest say though I have hard newes at home trading is low and my stock is small yet blessed be God I have the Gospel that is I have abundance of glad tidings made known to my eares and to my soule every day This is some comfort you have lesse of outward things but more of inward I suppose then ever Another thing is this if this be so then it is a caution that is necessary to be observed by us that are Ministers they must take heed of two things First take heed of corrupting and adulterating this blessed Gospel and glad tidings with their owne wisdome it is glorious enough of it selfe every addition of humane wisdome makes it worse take heed of sophisticating the word of God of playing the hucksters as the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 3. wee are not those that play the hucksters hucksters mingle apples and peares they mingle their commodities take heed of that And then take heed of mingling the Law and the Gospel together It is true the Law is necessary and is added to the Gospel but God intends not in the new testament that it should be mixed and mingled
we read that there was perfect Gospel or only good newes and glad tidings for the bad newes was now all gone And so it is to be understood here Goe preach the Gospel As if he should say I doe not my disciples bid you goe and give them now good newes and then bad to give them a little of the Law and a line of Gospel but goe preach the Gospel emphatically that is meerly purely Gospel for now Christ is risen from the dead and now the Gospel in the purity and simplicity is erected Goe preach the Gospel To every creature What should be the meaning of that We know that in the Scripture language creature most usually signifies not men but beasts things without life as in Rom. 8. you have it twice or thrice The creature groaneth the beasts and the woods and every thing that God hath made as being a name somewhat too low for men in the ordinary Scripture expression Yet so as it comprehends men for men also are sometimes called creatures Now what should the meaning of this be that now the Gospel being to be purely and fully and compleatly set up whether the Lord Jesus would have them preach and make known glad tidings to all creatures that is that even the bruit beasts and these creatures without life that they should have glad tidings and good newes from the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ I will not averr that it is so that that is the meaning of it but surely beloved there is no creature under heaven but hath a great deale of glad tidings and good newes from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for we read Rom. 8. that the creature groanes and the creature exspects deliverance and redemption All these creatures by sinne are brought into slavery and certainly they shall partake of the libertie of the Sonnes of God there is a redemption for them out of slavery as well as for men by the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ But what that shall be or in what sort I cannot determine Now whether you will understand it so that our Lord Christ meant not men and women only but that by creature the poore creatures that are without life and bruit beasts and all might understand the precious worth of this Gospel Or take it more restrained as generally the godly doe that by creature here is meant the Gentiles in opposition to the Jewes for they knew that they were to preach the Gospel to the Jewes which they also did before the resurrection but now saith Christ Goe preach the Gospel to every creature That is now I will have no distinction of persons I doe not now say take heed of the way of the Samaritans but goe which way you will goe to the Gentiles to Sinners to any men or women that you can call creatures Scithians Barbaririan bond or free goe and preach the Gospel to them bring them glad tidings and newes that Iesus Christ hath brought life grace salvation freely for them That this is the meaning compare it with Mat. 28. 19. Goe therefore teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Here it is goe preach to every creature there it is goe teach all nations I will have no partition or distinction between them saith Christ I gave you leave and often bid you teach the Jewes before but now goe teach the Gentiles for the world was then divided into those two parts Jewes and Gentiles goe teach the Gentiles goe teach every creature But some may say Why doth not our Lord then say goe teach the Gentiles as well as the Jew Why doth he call them creatures I answer it is not an ordinary expression to call men creatures in the Scripture But the reason as I conceive is this because the Gentiles were great sinners and the greatest of sinners And that you shall see clearly in divers places as in Mat. 5. where Christ forbids us to take care for tomorrow what we shall eat and what we shall drink why for saith he after these things the Gentiles seek that is the worst of sinners and we must not be like them So in Ephs. 4. the Apostl would not have them darkned in their understandings and walk as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mindes So in 1 Pet. 3. It is an ordinary expression in Scripture where great sinners are spoken of either they are called Gentiles or else compared to Gentiles Col. 2. Are wee not Jews and not sinners of the Gentiles that is the Gentiles were the greatest sinners that were now they being the greatest sinners the Lord calls them creatures and not men because it is an ordinary expression in Scripture to call wicked people beasts rather than men Isaiah 11. they are called Beares and VVolves and Tigers and Foxes and Doggs and Bulls c. So in Hos. 1. compared with 1 Pet. 3. You that were not a people saith Peter hath God made his people They were not a people God will not ordinarily vouchsafe wicked men and women the name of people but they were not a people What were they then They were Dogs for filth inesse Foxes for cunning Tigers for cruelty and Beares and such kind of creatures Therefore the Jews were called the people of the Lord not onely to distinguish them from others but they were called the people of God as we see in Exodus it was a priviledge to be accounted a people first and then the people of the Lord Therefore the Lord Jesus because hee would not have his Disciples make any exception hee calls them creatures as if he should say my Disciples though they be so sinful that according to the ordinary Scripture language you cannot call them men and women or people yet they are creatures and goe preach the Gospel to every creature go to the Gentiles the greatest sinners in the world whom I will not vonchsafe to call a people yet they are creatures goe preach the Gospel to them So that now I am come to the lesson which we are to observe and that is this That the Ministerie of the Gospel especially after the resurrection of Jesus Christ Containes nothing but glad tidings and good newes even to the worst of sinners Creatures that were so bad that they could not be called men and women yet saith Christ goe preach the Gospel pure Gospel gladtidings to them I say the Ministery of the Gospel if it be rightly dispensed doth not containe a tittle in it but perfect good newes and glad tidings to the heart of the worst of sinners For this is the proper difference between the Law and the Gospel The Law speaks good newes but only to the righteous if thou doe well thou shalt be rewarded if thou fulfill the Law thou shalt have life the Law speakes well to a man quatinus as a righteous man but the
the Gospel brings tidings that when we receive Christ as wee must leave sin so we must set on the doing of good I must not be my owne Master as the Minister saith one while I must fast and another while I must pray and teach my Children and my Familie and this is a hard task an endlesse work I cannot beare it to pray every morning and evening c. I answer this is good newes Why because in the first place when the Gospel tells you any such thing the Gospel doth not bid you doe them or else you shall be damned as the Law did but the Gospel saith thus thou poore drunkard or thou proud woman here is a gracious God that hath loved thee and out of love hath sent Jesus Christ to die for thee and hath appointed his Ministers to make it known to thee and here is everlasting redemption and salvation by him only because thou art a sinner there is no other reason in the world now thou art safe free from damnation and hell feare not that that is gone Christ hath died to reconcile thee to God and Christ hath loved thee therefore obey him if not thou shalt not be damned that is done away alreadie Indeed the Law saith thou shalt be damned for not doing it but saith Christ in the Gospel I have died and have forgiven thee thy sins and if thou wilt be a Villane not respect my Father that hath loved thee and I that have died for thee so it is but if thou wilt obey me thou shalt be a good childe Thus the Gospel speaks now there is no bad newes for me to heare of my dutie to heare that the Lord Jesus Christ commands me when I see my salvation sure I worke not for life as those under the Law for the Law is a voyce of words it bids me doe this or that or I shal be damned and if I went a little awrie I should lose all my labour no I see my salvation is safe hell and damnation are shut out of doores God is my Father and I am his childe I am in an everlasting Covenant there is nothing in Heaven or Hell shall be able to separate me from the love of God Now I am redeemed from my enemies and without feare as the Scripture saith why should I not serve him and studie to doe what he commands me Besides admit the Gospel bids thee doe many things the Gospel also gives thee power to doe them It is not a voice of words as that on Mount Siuai Heb. 12. that is words that had a voice but no power thou shalt doe this and not that but it gave no strength and the people were not able to heare the word for they were bid not to commit adultery not to sweare not to steale and there was no strength but a voyce But the voyce of the Gospel is a voyce of power it is called The day of Gods power the power of God to salvation The Arme of God the strength of God Therefore whatsoever the Gospel commands it gives a sweet power to the heart to doe the same and then it is no bad newes If a man bid me pay a thousand pounds for my neighbour and give me a thousand pounds in my hand it is easie to doe it The Gospel bids me deny my selfe and subdue my lusts if it did give no power it were a terrible thing but if withall the Gospel carry the Spirit of Christ into the heart and kill sin and make me able to deny my selfe then it is good newes Besides the duties that the Gospel bids me doe they are few for number and easie for nature and for the end of them it is not for life and salvation that is safe there is no danger of that and there is a Spirit to them And also there is a sweetnesse in Gospel obedience that there is nothing on this side glory so Pleasing to the soule that hath believed as obeying of Jesus Christ Ro. 6. You have your reward in holines Godly men say that this is the meaning of it that holiness is a reward to it selfe the doing of good things is a reward to it selfe To say nothing of the reward hereafter that there is a Crowne of glory your labour is not in vaine in the Lord You that work for him but the very doing of Gospel dutie with a Gospel spirit it is no other than meate and drink Our Lord Christ Joh. 4. when he was hungrie and thirstie when hee was wearie one would have thought he might have done many things more pleasing than to be teaching a sillie woman when they came with meate hee would not leave that that he was doing I have meate saith he that you know not off who gave it thee said they Saith he It is my meate and drink to doe the will of him that sent me So when wee have the heart and the nature and the spirit of Christ it will be sweeter than meate and drink out of love to do any thing that Jesus Christ commands us Againe it may be some man will say the Gospel for the most part brings good newes but there is one thing in the Gospel that me thinks is no good newes to poore sinners saith a poore soule the Ministers use to preach and to tell me that the Law saith doe this and live and the Minister tells me that the Gospel saith believe and live he saith that there shall be all happinesse and good to me if I believe and saith the poor soule for my part it is as possible for me to keep the ten Commandments as to believe and the Ministers say that there is no good thing in the Gospel that I can partake of except I believe I would like it well but for that one thing I would but I cannot believe To answer this if the Gospel held forth Christ and salvation upon believing as many oft preach it were little better tidings than the Law for it is as easie for a man of himselfe to keep the ten Comandments by obeying as to believe of himself to have faith to receive Christ Therefore that is a misunderstanding of the Gospel the Gospel saith not bring faith with thee and then here is all grace salvation No for whence should I have faith whatsoever is of the flesh is flesh and what is of me is flesh and abominable to God therefore the Gospel expects not that any sinner should bring faith for he hath it not nay it is a sin to endeavour to have it of himselfe But the Gospel as it brings salvation so it breeds faith in the heart of a sinner The same word that makes known salvation the same word breeds and begets faith in the heart to receive it That God that gives his almes to us gives a purse to carry it that God that gives Physick to a poore soule will give a hand to receive it It were strange if
the New Testament wee should labour for a full spirit of adoption What is that that is that there may be nothing in my heart towards God but pure love because in his dealing to me there is not a sillable but love and grace and glad tidings to me and my heart and life should be answerable For the reason of all the horrour that you finde in your hearts and all your feares and troubles that arise there they are from this error in your mindes this opinion that is not quite rooted out that there is in the Gospel administration some ill and bad tidings there is some love and some hatred some mercy and some wrath you think that it may be God is your father and it may be he is your enemie and that because you have sinned he will damne you to hell This is naturall and ordinary Now if you were convinced that there were nothing in the Gospel since our Lord Jesus is gone to heaven and is at the right hand of his Father there is nothing in his dispensation but love and mercy and no wrath hell and damnation and sin c. are all thrown away and if I be perfectly righteous and perfectly justified from all my sins if I have the spirit of Christ given me and am one with God for ever by an everlasting Covenant and shall have life and a Crowne of glory for ever and my sins shall not be laid to my charge O what a cleare and sweet spirit should I have in Gods service and not a muddie and dogged and froward spirit that ariseth from guilt soaking into the soule When I view this truth over and pull it by peice-meale and see that there is no gall nothing in the Gospel first or last but what is amiable and beautifull and blessed newes to sinners then there should follow this consideration why should there be any thing in my heart and spirit towards God but amiable thoughts and love c why should there be any of those coares of unbeliefe and distruct and feare and horrour Those mixtures of adoption and bondage Why should there be hellish feares or guilt in me since there is no wrath not anger at all in God Why should not the carriage of my heart be clear towards him as his is in his Sonne by the administration of the Gospel towards me Labour for a perfect spirit of adoption that you may not have any of those bublings of bondage in your spirits that now over take you and are twisted and woven with that little adoption that you have For who is there among us to this houre but when he comes before the Lord and hath a little smiling in his soule to see his favour and a little joy and delight to come at him and yet there is some feare and trembling as Peter when he was on the waves and what if God will not receive me c. Therefore studie to keep up the spirit of adoption It is a hard thing to keep up the temper of a childe in the soule especially when God lets a man fall into temptations and folly and weaknesse c. But though it be hard labour to keep up that temper at least thus much that thou never come to so low a condition which was the prayer of one that was a good man wherein thou can'st not with a full mouth and with a cleare heart call God father and thee his childe though the unhappiest and unworthiest childe If thou come below this if thou call on God with feare and canst not cry abba abba that is as much as daddie daddie as our babes use to say if thou doe not come so high thou art spoiled and undone desire God to teach you this Lesson also Thirdly if this be so that the Ministery of the Gospel is all glad tidings to the worst of sinners then I appeale to you all and let every man put his hand upon his owne breast and if this be a truth as I hope it hath been cleared you shall all be your own judges how just will the damnation of that sinner be that will not receive the Gospel If there were in the Gospel ridged tidings sad newes as people are apt to fancie to themselves then it were no wonder if one persecuted it and another despised it and another neglected it and another turned it into wantoness But when it comes in such a streame that there is nothing but love and light and salvation and grace and all freely laid down at the feet of a sinner for his receiving nay he shall have power and grace to receive it he shall have salvation and a vessell to carry it in judge how justly thy damnation will be in the last day man or woman whosoever thou art that settest thy selfe against the Gospel and wilt not receive salvation This is the reason why damnation comes out so rife in the new Testament it is scars ever mentioned in the old Testament that I know of damnation is not mentioned in the old Testament nor hell but as it is taken for the grave c. But when grace and the Gospel and life comes damnation comes at the heeles of it How can yee escape the damnation of hell Then comes the worme that never dieth and the fire that never goeth out The reason is because then damnation is proper Then when a man will not receive salvation not because he cannot no man is damned because he cannot receive Christ but because he will not receive this salvation and grace Therefore saith Christ Mat. 28. Goe preach the Gospel he that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned That is saith that godly Dr Preston go tell every wicked man this good newes that Christ hath brought salvation But it may be they will not believe what we say to them there is no more in the long and short but in a word tell them they shall be damned That is the reason in Mat. 22. where the Ministery of the Gospel is compared to a feast of dainties and one slights it and another despiseth it and another rejecteth it and when the Master of the feast came it is said he found one without a wedding garment and that the man was speechlesse he was as a man saith Beza with a halter about his neck faith hee goe Binde him hand and foot and cast him into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth He was speechlesse he had nothing to say and truly I have had more experience lately than ever I had in my life I saw a man that was accounted all his life a professed Athiest and I was with him in the roome when one in the company opened the Gospel from one end to the other as I have endeavoured in my poore abilitie to doe now and all the riches and the salvation of it how free it is how there is no core nor nothing but what is
amiable Saith the man when he had done judge yee will yee not think it just if yee be damned if ye will not receive and obey this Saith he it is so I deserve to be damned without mercy Consider this you will say so too you will be made to confesse how just your damnation will be for refusing it If there were any thing in all this that were harsh and cruell and rough and ridged it were somewhat but when God hath cast the Gospel into such a mold and way that every thing smiles and all is roses and yet a wretch shall go and persecute it and slight it and neglect and despise it I leave such a man let him judge himselfe at the last day worthy of damnation for he shall have judgment without mercy that rejecteth this mercy When men have this mercy without mixture of judgment it is fit that those men should have pure judgment withour mixture of mercy This is the reason that the Lord laughs at mens destruction Pro. 1. when it comes as a whirlwinde Now wee must understand that God doth not laugh at any mans destruction as a transgressor of the Law for he hath cast himself into a necessity of sininng and hath damned himself and he cannot help it And God will not laugh at the destruction of the Gentiles and heathens that have not heard of the Gospel but when God comes by his Ministers and opens and unbowels all the mysteries of the Gospel to people and hath laid all before them clearly yet then for people to love darknesse rather than light and to continue drunkards and whoremongers and swearers and villanes and jearers of Gods people and laugh at his Ordinances this makes the Lord laugh at their destruction I beseech you therefore all you that yet never received the Gospel of Jesus Christ consider what I have said In the fourth place if the Gospel and the Ministery of it be good tidings and glad newes to the worst of sinners Then Beloved you should me thinks imbrace with all affection the true and sincere Ministers of this Gospel these Messengers that bring you these glad tidings we are as the Apostle saith the offscouring of the world a spectacle to men and Angels Truly there are no Ministers in the world that are more persecuted and hated and despised than the humble sincere Ministers of the new Testament of the Gospel of Jesus Christ nor never were This is a sore and a strange thing if we did bring one word that were sad and greivous and harsh to you it were no wonder but if all that wee speake be the voyce of the dove doves language all sweet come to the Gospel Ministery if there come a poore man full of sadnesse the Ministery of the Gospel speaks a word of comfort to him if he be in darkness and he knowes not which way to goe waiting on a Gospel Ministery there is light to finde his way If he be in feare and know not his estate what he is a Gospel Ministery will give him assurance of Gods love so it brings glad tidings to some souls every houre Is not this than madnesse in men that of all creatures in the world they hate that man and those Messengers that bring these blessed glad tidings There is a Prophesie in Isaiah 52. 7. How beautifull upon on the mountaines are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace that bringeth good tidings of good things that publisheth salvation that saith to the righteous thy God reigneth How beautifull are their feet much more their lips you doe not in this as you doe in naturall things if a man come and bring glad tidings of taking of such a Towne or of such a victory though it may be there is losse and little good in it we all welcome it and he is rewarded presently and hath all wayes of encouragment and yet when people shall come and by the Spirit of God make known all the love of God in Jesus Christ and all the riches of the Gospel in Jesus Christ that your hearts should so rise against it that you should receive and entertain so many prejudices against it it is a strange and wonderous thing Therefore you should doe well me thinks as you read in the booke of God 2 Sam. 18. 27. of two men that did bring tidings to David of the warrs and the watchman said Me thinks the runing of the formost is like the runing of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok and the King said he is a good man and comes with good tidings He would have the watchman open the gate quickly why because he was a good man and did bring good tidings So wee should especially if men be good and holy and humble and feele the power of that they speake and expresse it in their lives say as David that is a good man and bringeth good tidings he will teach me if I be ignorant hee will comfort me if I be sad he will direct me if I have lost my way hee will build me up if I thrive not in grace The consideration of this truth me thinks should bannish all those strange thoughts and prejudices that wee have against the Ministers of the Gospel In the first place another lesson is this if the Gospel be such good newes such glad tidings then you should hearken much after it and inquire much into it We all you know are naturally greedie to heare newes and we know how much time is spent here in the City especially in reading Diurnalls inquiring after tidings and how much money is cast away that way Wee should doe so much more about these glorious tidings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ It is not enough to heare a Sermon or to read a Chapter once or twice a day as it is the manner of some that will not bring us to know the mysteryes of the Gospel but we must search the Scripture and compare spirituall things with spirituall things As in earthly tidings if a man tell of such a victorie one way and another after him another way and a third a third way you compare what they say and their letters and newes to finde out the truth So you should be earnest in seeking God and bego his Spirit compare Scriptures together see what the Scripture saith in such a place and how in another place and this is the way to find out the mystery of the Gospel These tidings are great therefore inquire into them and they are true tidings they are not fables and tidings of common concernment to every Saint therefore let this be the use that thou and I should make of it to desire the Lord to lead us into the depth of those mysteryes and to set our selves to studie it more and more for the further we goe the more wee shall finde as in a myne It is not as in your newes many times you have a great deale of good newes in a
Ministers forced on people 2. 28 Gospel Ministers to be imbraced 2. 45 see stumbling-blocks Afflictions moderated to the Saints 2. 20 Modestie a law of nature 1. 119 Common multitude cause of the present contentions 1. 134 N Nature THe law of nature to be looked too 1. 118 Gods ordinary commands agree with the law of nature 1. 119 Contrary names put upon men and things 1. 101 Names of persons and things changed by the Devill 1. 131 Service of naturall men hard 1. 33 Magistrates may determine in necessary indifferent things 1. 109 The Ministery of the Gospel nothing but good news 2. 6 Latitude of Saints in the new Testament 1. 12 see grace liberty O Offended see law OFfices and officers in the new Testament 1. 17. Saints tyed more strictly of Old 1. 8 see lawfull grace Punctuall lawes in the Old Testament 1. 15. Old Testament spirit what 1. 95 Sign of an old testament-spirit 1. 91 How men deprive themselves of opportunities 1. 147 Christians must walk orderly 1. 86 Things done disorderly how 1. 87 What hinders men from winning others 1. 53 see law P Papists HArdnesse of Papists service 1. 33 Men offended that their party is spoken against 1. 163. see engagement Posseover strictly observed 1. 16 What actiins tend to Peace 1. 71 The way to peace 1. 100. 122 No peace to the wicked how 2. 34. see selfe prosperity Some men thinke truth alway goes with persecution 1. 175 Persecution of Saints a priviledge 2. 19 Decency in respect of a Christians person 1. 78 Place of meeting to worship how to be determined 1. 108 Pope his practise 1. 48 Power given in the Gospel to doe what is required 2. 23 Practise see Pope Bishops Things worthy praise what 1. 85 Praise only to God 1. 86 Of preaching 1. 116 Precepts of severall sorts 1. 56 see rule Prejudice inconvenient 1. 172 Of Presbytery 1. 49 Falle Presbytery 1. 101 True Presbytery 1. 102 Presbytery and Independents wherein they differ Ibid Presbyterians judgment 1. 124 Contention from carnall Presbyterians 1. 129 Principles and ends of carnall Presbyterians 1. 136 see contention Principles see Presbytery Priviledge see persecution Outward prophanenesse by whome allowed 1. 43 Decency in respect of profession 1. 80 Profit meant by expediency 1. 66 Profit how brought by actions expedient 1. 68 profitable see sin Truth goes not alway with prosperity 1. 173 Prosperity sometimes goes with truth 1. 75 Of singing Psalmes 1. 115 Things pure what 1. 85 Q Christians full of Questions why 1. 140 R THe Saints must be dealt with rationally 1. 110 Reason of three sorts 1. 117 Right reason what Ibid Rediculous to tie the Saints where Christ hath not 1. 50 Religion presented by some as rediculous 1. 146 Christ came to work redemption 2. 14 Decency in regard of a Christians relation 1. 79 Religion see endlesse burthen Things of good report what 1. 85 Benefit by Gospel reproofe 2. 31 Right hand errours 1. 44 Rigour not to be used in determining things 1. 111 The Law the outward and the Spirit the inward rule 1. 13 What precepts or examples make a rule 1. 58 To walke all by the same rule 1. 103 Every thing in Scripture not a rule 1. 166 see Scripture S SAlvation to be accepted of from Christ 1. 37 Wrong wayes to salvation 2. 12 Rules mis-drawen from Scripture 1. 168 Heed in drawing rules from Scripture 1. 169 see Canon Rule Decency in regard of season 1. 82 The way to peace in a mans self 1. 138 Self a hindrance to expedient walking 1. 177 Ministers not to run before they be sent 2. 51 The Saints under the old Testament servants 1. 17 Decency in regard of sex 1. 80 Engagement to sinners to come to Christ 1. 26 Leaving of sin profitable 2. 21 God makes no peace with sinne 2. 35 Salvation offered to sinners as sinners 2. 36 see lawfull singing see Psalmes Difference small between Indedependents and Presbyterians 1. 125 Sobriety a help to expedient walking 1. 177 Saints in the new Testament sonnes 1. 17 Expedient actions for the good of the soul 1. 74 The service of the devil will one day be soure 1. 34 Saints in the new Testament have more of the Spirit 1. 19 Christs Kingdom spiritual 1. 20 The Spirit enables to doe what is required 1. 35 Spirituall things to be studied 1. 105 Spiritual Christians their carriage 1. 141 Spirituall things by whom relished 1. 155 Spirit by whom restrained 2. 29 see rule Ministers to woe men as spouses for Christ 1. 28 Strength not given to keepe lawes of our owne making 1. 139 Men strive about unlikely things 1. 126 Men strive about that they cannot proue 1. 127 Doctrine not to be abused to strife 1. 165 Gospel way a strict way 1. 94 To be strict in point of expediency 1. 98 Stumbling-blocks keep men from Christ 1. 27 Stumbling-blocks removed 1. 162 Saints now tied chiefely to the substance of things 1. 23 see supper To submit to Christs laws 1. 38 To look to our principles against times of suffering 1. 176 Supper of the Lord how ordained 1. 16 Substance of the Lords Supper set downe 1. 24 Sweetnesse in the Devils service whence it is 1. 34 Sweetnesse in Christs service not tasted Ibid T EVery thing in the Gospel glad tidings 2. 11 Gospel tidings great and true 2. 48 Gospel tidings to be spread abroad Ibid Tie see ridiculous Time of publique worship by whom to be aetermined 1. 107 Comforts against troubles 2. 51 Things true what 1. 84 Saints of old as children under tutours 1. 18 V SIgne of unbeliefe 2. 36 understand see liberty Unsetlednesse in Religion whence 2. 37 W VVatchfulnesse a help to expedient walking 1. 179 Weak Christians cause contentions 1. 129 Nothing commanded by God to be weakened 1. 165 Some make the way wider than Christ hath made it 1. 40 Expedient actions tend to the winning of others 1. 73 see others Carnall wisdome a hindrance 1. 176 Spirituall wisdome a help to expedient walking 1. 177 God wil interpret his own word 1. 174 Fancy to be subjected to the word 1. 178 Notions to be followed as they agree with the word The maine work of salvation done already 1. 29 Liberty in the externalls of Gods worship 1. 15 No liberty in the substance of Gods worship Ibid The maine work done concerning worship 1. 104 Y Yoake of Christ what 1. 9. READER THe number of the Pages in the latter three Sermons beginning with 1 2 3 c. For thy ease in the use of the Table I have set down what is contained in the nine former Sermons as Part 1. In the three latter as Part 2. Whereby with ease may be found any head in either T. S. Act. 17. 21. Judg. 3. 21. 2. King 9. 6 Mat 28. 19 Luk. 2. 10 Joh. 3. 16. Heb. 6. 8. Isa. 52. 7. 2 Sam 18. 27. The words opened Gospel what meant by it Creature what meant by it Gentiles called creatures Quest Answ. Gentiles the worst of sinners Doct. The Ministery of the Gospel containes nothing but good newes to the worst of sinners Difference between the Law and the Gospel Nothing but good newes now in the Gospel Heb. 12. 18. 19. c. opened Every particular in the Gospel glad tidings The Gospel shewes mans wretched condition 2. The wrong wayes and meanes that men use for salvation 3. It holds forth Gods love to sinners 4. Gods love fruitful 5. Christ came to work redemption 6. Christ died for us 7. He roase from death 8. Conversed with his discipls 9. Ascended into heaven 10. Intercedes for us 11. shall come to judgement 12. Gods Covenant Object Concerning outward things Answ. Psalme 45. Psal 149. Spirituall honour reall Angels waite on the Saints Saints right to outward things Object The Gospel brings persecutions Ans. 1. they are priviledges 2. They are moderated Object The Gospel requires men to forsake sin Answ. 1. Leaving of sin profitable The Gospel teacheth to hate sinne Object The Gospel requireth dutie Answ. 1. Not on paine of damnation 2. The Gospel gives power to do what it requireth 3. Gospel duties few and easie 1. Cor. 15. Object The Gospel requires Faith Answ. The Gospel breeds faith Object Discipline and government in the Gospel Ans. Two wrong governments since Christ Papacie Episcopacy Evils in both governments 1. Concerning their power 2. Their Lorldlines in two things 1. In imposing lawes on mens consciences 2. In sorcing men to obey those lawes 3. Forcing Ministers Officers on the people 4. Their power excercised against the Saints 5. Restraining the Spirit in preaching praying 6. Their lawes backed by secular power The two worst things in the Gospel good newes 1. Reproofe Benefit of Gospel reproofe 2 Excomunication Object No peace to the wicked Ans. three Wayes 1. It is rather Law than Gospel 2. God will not make peace with sin though hee doth with sinners 3. No peace to men that continue in sin under the Gospel Object Answer How judgments are pronounced against sinners Quest Ans. Continuance in sin a signe of unbeliefe use 1. To learne that in the Gospel salvation s offered o sinner s sinners Unsetlednesse in religion whence Many doe little for God why Use 2. To labour for aperfect spirit of adoption Full spirit of adoption what Feares horrours whence The damnation of them that refuse the Gospel just Damnation mentioned frequently in the new-Testament why Whose destruction God laughs at Vse 2. Gospel Ministers to be imbraced use 5. To hearken to and inquire after the Gospel Gospel tidings great and true use 6. To spread these glad tidings to others Gospel-preaching not to be hindred New light discovered in these dayes Cautions Learning not to be disparaged Men not run before they be sent Vse 7. Comfort against present troubles Vse 8. 1. Not to corrupt the Gospel 2. Not to mingle Law and Gospel 2. It is legall to do good or abstain from evill for fear of judgment Cause of divisions Vse 9. To receive the Gospel 1. To beleve it 2. Embrace it with joy 3. To give up our selves to it